Fireside Chat on Global Patriarchy & Cultural Change with Dr Alice Evans
The Gendered Impact of COVID-19: An Intersectional LensWe had the honour of hosting Professor Erica Di Ruggiero along with Kaitlynne Lowe in a discussion about the gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.. We are grateful for the incredible guest speakers and to everyone who came out to this event.
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Dealing With Two Pandemics: COVID-19 and the Social Determinants of HealthOur first roundtable discussion of the 2020-2021 academic year. Chantal Phillips, a UofT medical student, joined us and provided such excellent insight on the social factors exacerbating health inequalities during the pandemic. It was a great opportunity to discuss COVID 19, the Social Determinants of Health, and brainstorm policy solutions.
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Filling in the Blanks: Addressing Barriers to Sexual Health Resources in Ontario
On November 8th 2018, the Gender, Diversity, and Public Policy Initiative hosted a roundtable titled “Filling the Blanks: Addressing Barriers to Sexual Health Resources in Ontario.” A series of panel guests were invited to partake and share their experiences on the front lines of offering sexual health resources within the greater Toronto area.
Panel guests included Lee Herald from the Sexual Education Center at the University of Toronto, Aja Toste from the IMAGINE (Interprofessional Medical and Allied Groups for Improving Neighbourhood Environments) Student-led Health Clinic, and Dennis Williams of Planned Parenthood Toronto. Panel guests spoke to their experiences influencing and working within health systems in regards to addressing sexual health. Discussions centred around the on-the-ground and policy-based barriers facing individuals accessing the health care system in Ontario and potential solutions. Additionally, they highlighted potential resources available to the public and answered a diverse array of questions from attendees.
Panel guests included Lee Herald from the Sexual Education Center at the University of Toronto, Aja Toste from the IMAGINE (Interprofessional Medical and Allied Groups for Improving Neighbourhood Environments) Student-led Health Clinic, and Dennis Williams of Planned Parenthood Toronto. Panel guests spoke to their experiences influencing and working within health systems in regards to addressing sexual health. Discussions centred around the on-the-ground and policy-based barriers facing individuals accessing the health care system in Ontario and potential solutions. Additionally, they highlighted potential resources available to the public and answered a diverse array of questions from attendees.
Decolonizing Education
GDPP is excited to celebrate Black History Month at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto! Come join us for a roundtable discussion on "Decolonizing Education" - exploring policy issues affecting inclusion in academia on February 12 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. in CG 160.
We look forward to hosting Professor Rinaldo Walcott, Chair of UofT's Black Faculty Recruitment and Retention Work Group, PhD student and activist Huda Hassan, and Language Event Coordinator, Jenny Blackbird, of the Centre for Indigenous Studies (UofT) to discuss policy issues regarding representation and participation of those in the Black and Indigenous communities. To register, click here.
We look forward to hosting Professor Rinaldo Walcott, Chair of UofT's Black Faculty Recruitment and Retention Work Group, PhD student and activist Huda Hassan, and Language Event Coordinator, Jenny Blackbird, of the Centre for Indigenous Studies (UofT) to discuss policy issues regarding representation and participation of those in the Black and Indigenous communities. To register, click here.
Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Speech
This roundtable focused on policy issues centred around hate speech and freedom of speech. The context was set by reviewing some recent events: In March, House of Commons passed motion M103: Condemn Islamophobia. Recently, the Liberal government's Bill 62 on religious neutrality was passed in Quebec's National Assembly. Some of the questions discussed included: What is the role of policy makers when the law passed aims for ‘religious neutrality’ while targeting a minority group of religious women? How can we reconcile protecting minorities and limiting hate speech with our fundamental rights and freedom of speech? The discussion centred on institutional, federal, and provincial policy responses to address Islamophobia, hate speech and freedom of speech. Read more about the roundtable here.
Addressing Sexual Violence on University Campuses
Focusing on policy developments in recent years, this round table discussed the persistent problem of sexual violence on university campuses. Members of the University of Toronto Governing Council and the University of Toronto Graduate Students' Union were in attendance to offer their insights. The discussion centered on several challenges with regard to building policy innovation, such as the governance challenges associated with Canadian policy roles in particular, and used comparative lessons in North American to generate ideas. The round table also highlighted the importance of the lived experiences of those who experience violence and the need for policy interventions to be flexible to the needs of students. As such, a major implication of the discussion is that policies should be developed in an iterative process and policy decisions should be considered as living documents that can be adjusted to better meet the realities of university communities. This means a call for all orders of government to use consultative, bottom-up, and student-driven efforts to continue the important work of building a fair and responsive system.